Opening her eyes into pitch darkness, Aivi couldn’t remember where she was at first. Fear swept over her and made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. With her heart drumming in her chest, she crept across the floor, being careful not to move suddenly so the floor boards would not creak suddenly under the release of her weight. Getting to the door in complete darkness she rested her hand tentatively on the doorknob. It was now or never.
*
Ever so carefully she twisted the handle and silently pulled the door open. There were candles dotted down the long hallway creating pools of light in the darkness. She leant her head around the door frame and glanced both ways. No movement, everything was quiet. Moving forward she eased the door shut behind her and froze as the door clicked shut. The click seemed to reverberate as loudly as a gunshot. Keeping to the edge of the corridor she began her journey, heart hammering so loudly she was sure she it could be heard from miles away.
*
A flicker from the light behind her and she sharply twisted her head, but the corridor was empty, so she continued until she made it to the grand staircase. What was that, she stopped and listened, sure that she’d heard a noise behind her like slight shuffle. Not hearing anything else she picked up her pace she began the descent, running her hand lightly over the banister to guide her in the gloom.
*
She made it to last corner of the staircase and breathed a sigh of relief, not far to go now. An eerie giggle emanated from the top of the staircase, the feeling of relief vanished as Aivi glanced up the stairs and knew she had to get out now or there would be no hope. Giving up all pretence at sneaking she made a dash for the front door and fell squarely over the black cat that had lain across the bottom step. The cat wailed and fled and the sound of her crashing seemed to have awoken the residents as she could hear doors opening and voices above her. Making a last ditch effort she hobbled towards the front door. Freedom! She flung it open….
*
….’SUPRISE!’ yelled a cheery voice....... and Aivi fell backwards in shock as a plate of greenish cookies were shoved in her face. Tataru beamed at her over the cookies ‘What are you doing sitting on the floor, silly? She asked, giggling ‘you didn’t think I’d let you leave without tasting my new creations did you?’
*
Aivi tried not to grimace as the greenish cookies were waved in from of her face again. She was sure she could see a hair poking out of one of them, and they were sat in a puddle of their own grease. Smiling wryly she picked a cookie off the plate. Tataru had many talents, but baking was not one of them.

Aivi Kupo
Hyperion
Chocobo Noble Barding please